Recently, a joint research group consisting of the Japan Institute of Physical Chemistry and Toray Corporation has developed a novel thin-film solar cell that can be used simply by affixing it to clothes with an electric iron.
The battery is made of thin, soft resin coated with an organic polymer semiconductor material that can convert solar energy into electrical energy. Its thickness is 3 micrometers, and it can maintain its performance even at high temperatures of 100 degrees. Shoulders, etc., can be used as a portable walkman or other power source.
The photoelectric conversion efficiency of the battery reaches 10%, which is higher among organic solar cells. The performance of previous thin solar cells will be reduced by about 20% after heating, but this newly developed battery will not show performance degradation. Happening.
Researcher Kenji Fukuda of the Institute of Physical Chemistry said that at present, 'smart textiles' with embedded body temperature and heart rate sensors embedded in fabrics are attracting people's attention. In order to use the battery as its power source, it will increase its power generation in the future.